Retirement Life November 13, 2026

Passport, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry: Which Are Worth It for Occasional Travelers

Sheila Armand

If you fly a few times a year, it is hard to know which travel documents and programs are worth paying for. A passport, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry each solve a different problem, and each has its own fee and application process. This guide compares the three using figures published by the State Department, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), so you can decide what fits the way you travel.

The short version

	U.S. passport book	TSA PreCheck	Global Entry
What it does	Lets you travel internationally; also works as ID for domestic flights	Faster security screening when leaving U.S. airports	Faster customs processing when returning to the U.S.; includes TSA PreCheck
Fee	$130 renewal; $165 first time ($130 plus $35 acceptance fee)	About $78 to $85, depending on the enrollment provider	$120
Lasts	10 years for adults	5 years	5 years
Run by	State Department	TSA	CBP
In-person step	First-time applicants apply in person	Short enrollment appointment	Interview

The passport

What it costs

The State Department's passport fees page lists these adult fees:

Renewal by mail or online: $130 for a passport book.
First-time application: $130, plus a $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility where you apply, for a total of $165.
Passport card: $30. The card is a wallet-sized document for land and sea crossings to nearby countries. It cannot be used for international air travel.
Expedited service: an extra $60.

An adult passport is valid for 10 years. Spread over that time, a renewal works out to $13 a year.

Why it is useful even if you rarely leave the country

Since REAL ID enforcement began, TSA requires every air traveler 18 and older to show a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable ID to fly within the United States. TSA's REAL ID page says a valid passport can be used instead. If your state driver's license is not REAL ID-compliant, a passport solves that problem for a decade.

How long it takes

Processing times change with demand. The State Department publishes current estimates on its processing times page, and those estimates do not include mailing time. Check the page before you book an international trip, and renew early. Many countries require a passport to be valid for several months beyond your travel dates.

TSA PreCheck

What you get

TSA describes the benefit on its PreCheck page: members generally do not need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or light jackets at security. TSA reports that about 99 percent of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. TSA also notes that no one is guaranteed expedited screening on every trip.

What it costs

You enroll through one of three providers approved by TSA, and the fee depends on which you choose.

Provider	New enrollment	Online renewal
IDEMIA	$78	$70
CLEAR	$77.95	$68.95
Telos	$85	$70

Membership lasts five years, according to TSA's PreCheck FAQ. At about $78, that is under $16 a year.

A note for travelers 75 and older

TSA already offers some relief at regular checkpoints. Its page on screening passengers 75 and older says those travelers may leave on shoes and a light jacket, and can ask to be seated during parts of screening if needed. That does not include the shorter PreCheck line, and laptops and liquids still come out of the bag. If the main thing you dislike is taking off your shoes, you may already be covered.

Global Entry

What you get

Global Entry speeds up customs when you return to the United States from abroad. It also includes TSA PreCheck. TSA's FAQ confirms that Global Entry members receive PreCheck benefits as part of their membership.

What it costs

The application fee is $120. CBP announced the change from $100 to $120, effective October 1, 2024. Membership lasts five years under the federal rule that set the fee. CBP's how to apply page notes that the fee is non-refundable, even if an application is denied.

The catch: the interview

Global Entry requires an interview. After CBP conditionally approves your application, you schedule an interview at an enrollment center and bring a valid passport and one other form of ID. CBP says most applications are approved within two weeks, but some take much longer. Enrollment centers are usually at international airports, which can mean a long drive.

There is a useful workaround called Enrollment on Arrival. According to CBP's Global Entry FAQ, conditionally approved applicants can complete the interview when they land on an international flight at a participating airport, with no separate appointment.

A free alternative: Mobile Passport Control

If Global Entry sounds like too much effort, CBP's Mobile Passport Control is free. You enter your passport details and answer the customs questions in an app, then show a receipt to an officer in a dedicated lane. It is available to U.S. citizens at participating airports and seaports. You still show your passport, and there is no interview or membership.

Which one is worth it for you

You fly within the U.S. once or twice a year. A passport or REAL ID license is all you need. If you are 75 or older, TSA's standard screening already lets you keep your shoes on.

You fly within the U.S. several times a year. TSA PreCheck is the better value. It costs less than Global Entry and involves a shorter enrollment visit.

You take at least one international trip most years. Global Entry costs about $40 more than PreCheck over five years and includes it. If you can manage the interview, it covers both directions of an international trip.

You travel abroad once every few years. Skip Global Entry. Use Mobile Passport Control on the way home and consider PreCheck only if domestic lines bother you.

Before paying, check your credit card benefits. Some travel cards reimburse the PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.

Avoid look-alike websites

Apply only on official government sites, which end in .gov. Private sites that charge extra to "help" with applications are common in search results. Passport applications start at travel.state.gov, PreCheck at tsa.gov and Global Entry at cbp.gov.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a passport card to fly within the U.S.?

TSA publishes a full list of acceptable IDs on its REAL ID page. Check that list for the passport card and other documents before you rely on one.

If I have Global Entry, do I also need to buy PreCheck?

No. Global Entry includes PreCheck benefits.

Does my spouse get PreCheck through my membership?

No. Each adult needs their own membership. TSA says children 17 and under can join an adult with PreCheck when the indicator appears on the child's boarding pass.

How early should I renew a passport?

Check the State Department's current processing estimate and add mailing time. Renewing nine months to a year before expiration avoids problems with countries that require extra validity.